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Tuesday, 9 March 2010

MARCH IS MARCHING on and mad March hares abound. I promised to bring you clocks and so here is The Hare Mycomusicologist Clock. It is for Andrea, who asked for hares and mushrooms and music and the Bronze Age burial chamber of Pentre Ifan in Pembrokeshire.

This March hare (for I am sure he is one even though I painted him in January) sits atop a mushroom and violins his moon-thoughts to the Welsh mountains beyond. I suppose this clock has a faint Wonderland-whiff to it, what with March hares and sitting on mushrooms and all, though that was not planned.

Things are seen from an insect-eye-view as I needed the mushroom to be more or less round for the clock face. The clock is a slice of apple wood this time, with a little protrusion where the apple tree had begun to think about a branch. Into this convenient niche I poked the ears of this shy red-waistcoated fellow.

Do click on the photos to enlarge them (though if you do you'll discover a disgraceful scattering of dust motes on the paint surface!). Hares conjure many varied folk superstitions and beliefs worldwide. There is a hare in the moon of course and I was particularly intrigued by the legend that tells of the moon in anger heating a stone and burning the hare's mouth, causing, like Shakespeare's Flibbertigibbet, a hare-lip.

"This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet: he begins

at curfew, and walks till the first cock; he gives

the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the

hare-lip; mildews the white wheat, and hurts the

poor creature of earth."

King Lear | Act III, scene IV

My friend Terri Windling (whose wonderful paintings are twitching with rabbit ears) wrote fascinatingly on hare and rabbit folklore too, and she quotes at the end of her essay a children's poem by Walter de la Mare, which, to add to the hare-witchery, I pass on here:

In the black furror of a fieldI saw an old witch-hare this night;And she cocked a lissome ear,And she eyed the moon so bright,And she nibbled of the green;And I whispered "Whsst! witch-hare,"Away like a ghostie o’er the fieldShe fled, and left the moonlight there.

Ooooh, yay! I'm going to have to buy a print of Vainamoinen. Thanks so much! Love the hare clock. Thanks for reminding me why I like Walter de la Mare's poems so much. Coupled with your beautiful artwork, his poetry has enchanted me even more.

She does have a harelip! She really does! How does one go seeing that picture so often and never noticing it? Anyways, forgive the rambling, that is a very beautiful clock :) and a delightful read. Best wishes for your next adventures.Franky

This is lovely, I am sure Andrea must be thrilled. I think any kinship with Wonderland just adds a bit of whimsy and delight. It was so good to come over here today and see a new creation. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

I'm so glad you came out of hibernation. The Hare is special and beautiful and I wish he was mine! I hope you don't mind but I have talked about your wonderful creations on my blog. I had said you make me feel like Alice in Wonderland when I visit here, becoming very small and seeing things through different eyes. Many thanks. mrsyappydog

Wow... so lovely to have you back. And a new adventure! Your rooted house looks very welcoming :-) We too start our new adventure on water in a matter of weeks and I feel that this is what life is: The opportunity to enjoy many different paths and to experience them right through to our very soul :-)

What a beautiful clock! I love the rich warm earthy colours but most of all I love the way you've worked the painting oragnically into the shape of the wood, so very special. Lovely to have yopu back blogging again :o)xx

What a beautiful clock - lucky Andrea. I love the hare's big feet and ears. I also have a fascination with hares, the moon, mushrooms and burial chambers though must confess I don't know very much about any of them. I shall follow your links and no doubt learn more. Thankyou.

Oh! I was so pleased to come to your blog today and find not one but two posts to read! I feel as though I have been on a wonderful visit to your cosy new home. You have given it such comfort and loveliness in so short a time, everywhere looks as though you have been there for years! I think the house was waiting for you.The lampshades you made are wonderful!! You are such a magical artist, I wish you many happy times dear Rima, thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your entrancing new home. As they say in Scotland, 'Lang may your lum reek, dear lady'.Hugs...Spring...ah..Spring!

Rima, I think your painting is more beautiful than ever before, the colours you have used on your latest clock are so warm and promising. I like your new place very much, it looks so cosy and it seems to have your touch. Living in quite a new, but self - built house the history that I share with my house is quite short, though sometimes it feels like it must be centuries. looking forward to seeing some more picts of your new-old home.

Gorgeous clock, you are so talented.I love your wordcraft, reading your blog always softens my heart, quietens my mind and I find I am listening with my soul. It always leaves me feeling gentler and whole.Blessings to you Rima, so glad to have you back.BTW The house looks wonderful.

You seem to be hard at work of late, which is welcome news for those of us who enjoy reading your stories.As for the clock, it cetainly is a most fancy one, full of creativty -with that smart-looking hare playing the violin; one can almost hear the music coming from it!Lovely post

I don't know how i found you but am so glad i did!!! Hares are one of my favourite creatures....I see at least two every morning when i walk my dog...i read somewhere that they know all of natures secrets...your work is incredible...xx

I am so happy to see you back writing and having pictures. You sounded so sad and I imagine you lost something or someone dear to you and I'm sorry. But we aren't strangers, you know. It happens to all of us. You lose yourself for awhile but hopefully you eventually wake up and carry on. Time helps and Art helps and Dogs help. I love your new home "Sniffing you". I bet it's happy you're there. Love and happiness to you from across the ocean.

The clock is incredibly beautiful and its a wonderful experience to unwrap the parcel not knowing what you are going to find inside. The clock is for my husbands birthday later this year - I know he will love it.

Interesting that the link to Pentra Ifan is to Julian Copes website, and he is Rob's favourite artist and one of his favourite books the Modern Antiquarian :)

Hares, hares, everywhere hares...I suppose it is that time of year...I'm seeing them scurry about everywhere here on the farm.

I simply adore the clock painting. The hares huge feet are too cute and his ears fit so nicely in the little branch hole. He has a wonderfully pensive expression on his little face...from the music he plays or from the memory it brings to mind...I wonder. I'm not a huge fan of mushrooms (except to eat them.) I think it was because they were the subject of too many bad paintings in the 70's but as mushrooms go, yours are very nice ones and I like the insect eye view of them. I say it again, you are a genius, Rima! Your work is brilliant. Wishing for you a very happy springtime!

Actually, we don't have hares here in Georgia, we have white cottontails that behave very much like hares and who live above ground as hares do. Just thought I would clarify, so that no one thinks (knows) that I am mad as March hares.

Oh my goodness Rima! So much for me to catch up on and so exciting.I'm going to savour this all tomorrow morning,like chapters in a beautiful book. Sunday, with tea and toast,I shall be here.Can't wait.Will comment again later. xx

A little witch-hare has been haunting our back porch and nibbling our blueberry bushes to nubs. My husband complains she's been leaving piles of shite all over the yard, but I say here-hare to the lovely natural compost!

Hi Rima,I have been following your beautiful Blog for a bit now due to friends Sarah-the witch of the forest grove and my dear friend Nao- the teatime traveler and love your work!I am thrilled you are writing again and your new home looks so cozy and beautiful....I have posted a link to you from my Blog because I do love it so...Blessings to you and your work~Nikiah

I can smell, taste, see, hear, feel every one of your words. Your blog opens up every sense in a way i never imagined possible :) I wish, i wish, i wish i knew you personally...how much more magical life would be :)

Hello Rima,During my nocturnal wanderings through the web one night, I bumped into your fascinating blog, and quite frankly, absolutely fell in love with your artwork. Furthermore, you are a talented writer since you have the capacity to engage your readers. There is soul in your work which is unfortunately rare nowadays. You have been an inspiration.I myself am a painter and a writer. If you are interested, you can see my work at zainaanwar.blogspot.com. I have already added your blog to my list and I would looking forward to some feedback from you.

About Me

Rima Staines is an artist using paint, wood, word, music, animation, clock-making, puppetry & story to attempt to build a gate through the hedge that grows along the boundary between this world & that. Her gate-building has been a lifelong pursuit, & she hopes to have perhaps propped aside even one spiked loop of bramble (leaving a chink just big enough for a mud-kneeling, trusting eye to glimpse the beauty there beyond), before she goes through herself.

Always stubborn about living the things that make her heart sing, Rima’s houses have a tendency to be wheeled. She currently dwells in an old cottage on top of a hill on the edge of Dartmoor with her beloved, Tom, & their big-hearted, ice-eyed lurcher, Macha.

Rima’s inspirations include the world & language of folktale; faces of people who pass her on the street; folk music & art of Old Europe & beyond; peasant & nomadic living; magics of every feather; wilderness & plant-lore; the margins of thought, experience, community & spirituality; & the beauty in otherness.

Crumbs fall from Rima’s threadbare coat pockets as she travels, & can be found collected here, where you may join the caravan.